Automatic tide-motor



No. 623,699. Patented Apr. 25, I899. J. BENDEB & E. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC TIDE MOTOR.

(Application filed m. a, 1899.)

(No Model.)

0 L91; O 4 J 4 x 5 5 I O 1 I O Hm fn/vflz/tors. i. i W/ JV W Z W I lJNiTED STATES PATENT @EETCE.

JOHN BENDER AND ELI SMITH, OF DRESSOR, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC T lDE-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,699, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed January 3. 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN BENDER and ELI SMITH, residing at Dressor, in the county of Fayette and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Automatic Tide-Motor; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to a new and useful automatic tide-motor; and it consists, essentially, of a power-house (or float) constructed in such a manner as to be raised or lowered by the action of the tide. To the power-house (or float) are attached power-posts, to which are fastened segment-cogs, between which a cog-wheel (or transmission-wheel) revolves in one direction, whether the power-house is going up or down. In order to overcome the stoppage which occurs at high and low tide, compressed air is to be used, or compressed air may be used altogether, if desired.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a motor to utilize the power of the tides of the character mentioned that may be readily constructed and which will be simple in construction, durable, and comparatively cheap.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, and the points of novelty will be particularly set forth in the claims.

e are enabled to accomplish the objects of our invention by the simple means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan view of our tide-motor. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a portion of the power-house or float, showing the cog-segments. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the dockpost. v

1 is the dock, by which the dock-post stands, on which is placed the main shaft and transmission-wheel.

2 is the dock-post.

3 is the casingsurrounding the power-house and also to prevent rough water from'interfering with the power-house.

4 is the piling surrounded by the casing.

Serial No. 701,062. (No modelfi 5 is the power-house-or float, which is raised and lowered by the action of the tides.

6 are the cog-segment posts, to which the cog-segments are attached.

7 are the cog-segments, which propel the transmission-wheel.

'8 is the transmission-wheel, which revolves between the cog-segments.

9' is the main shaft.

10 is the speed-wheel, to which gearing may be attached to get the required speed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the dock, on which the main shaft, transmission-wheel, and gearingare situated, also speed-wheels and an air-pump for compressing air to be used in overcoming the stoppages at high and low tide.

2 is the dock-post, holding the transmissionwheel and the main shaft.

3 is the casingsurrounding the power-house and also to prevent rough water from interfering with the steady rise and fall of the power-house.

tis piling surrounded by the casing. should be provided with steel strips or rollers to insure the perfect perpendicular rise and fall of the power-house and also to insure the holding of the cog-segments in gear with the transmission-wheel.

5 is the power-house, which is raised and lowered by the action of the water. It should be preferably constructed with a stout frame and surrounded by boilerplate or some wat er-tight material. It should be weighted with some heavy material to give the same power to the machinery in descending as in ascending.

6 are the cog-segment posts, to which the cog-segments are attached and should be made firm to the power-house.

7 are the cog-segments, which propel the transmission-wheel. The cogs may be made independent, if desired.

8 is the transmission-wheel, which is fastened securely to the main shaft and is acted upon by the cog-segments, and is propelled in the same direction whether the powerhouse is ascending or descending and is always in gear.

9 is the main shaft, to which the transmission-wheel is attached.

10 is the speed-wheel, to which gearing may be attached to get the required speed for running the machinery or the air-pump.

11 are springs which keep the cog-segments pressed against the transmission-wheel 8.

Then the device is in operation, if the float be ascending the cog-segment 7 on the right in Fig. 3 engages the wheel 8 and causes it to revolve. The other cog-segment meanwhile is forced backward against the yielding spring 11, and thus slips by wheel 8 without affecting its motion. On the downward movement of the float the left-hand cog-segment comes into play, while the other remains idle. A continuous rotation of wheel 8 in one direction is thus secured.

It is obvious that many changes in the details of description may be made within the scope of theinvention without departing from the spirit thereof, and we therefore do not desire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise construction as shown.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An automatic tide-motor consisting of a casing surrounding the power-house orfloat, the segment-posts firmly attached in a perpendicular position to said float, the segmenteogs supported by said segment-posts and the springs; the said casing being supported by piling to which are attached steel plates or rollers in order to insure the steady perpendicular rise and fall of the power-house or float.

2. In an automatic tide-motor the combination of cog-segment posts attached firmly to the power-house or float; cog-segments supported by said posts, with the transmission-wheel engaged by said cog-segments and the springs holding the cog-segments in gear With the transmission-wheel thereby making it automatic.

In an automatic tide-motor the combination with a dock supporting a main shaft and speed-gearing, of a dock-post secured to the dock to support in part the main shaft and also to assist in holding the power-house or float in place, said dock-post being grooved to permit the action of the cog-segments.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib mg witnesses.

JOHN BENDER. ELI SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

H. D. WALL, F. DIDWAY. 

